Someone to remember this Memorial Day

posted at 5:20 pm on May 30, 2010 by Cassy Fiano

To Marines, the name Jason Dunham is already famous. He was born on November 10, 1981 — the Marine Corps birthday. He was raised in Scio, NY, and joined the Marine Corps in the year 2000. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and was deployed to Iraq.

On April 14, 2004, Dunham made a decision that would save the lives of two Marines… at the cost of his own.

Dunham, a 22-year-old machine gunner from Scio, N.Y., was manning a checkpoint near Karabilah, near the Syrian border in Iraq, on April 14, 2004, when an Iraqi man grabbed his throat. As the two scuffled, the Iraqi dropped a grenade with the pin removed, and Dunham quickly jumped on it, using his Kevlar helmet and body to smother the blast.

Shrapnel pierced his skull, and he died eight days later with his parents at his side at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.

The then-Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Michael Hagee, presented Dunham with a Purple Heart before he died. General Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada were also at his bedside when he died, alongside his parents.

He became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was the second person to receive a Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq. A United States Navy missile destroyer has been named after him, with a piece of his helmet embedded into the mast.

He’s received our nation’s highest honors, but it doesn’t make up for the sacrifice he made for our country and for his Marines. Remember Corporal Jason Dunham this Memorial Day. Remember all of the heroes, the best and brightest among us, who have given their lives so that we may be free.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

And I will remember his family, his mother and father and siblings (if any), in particular, and all of those who loved him. And I shall also remember a boy — a young man of 24, if I recall correctly – from the next town north of mine, who gave his life in the first year or so of the war in Afghanistan.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander’s convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

I weep for the sacrifice that these brave men and women voluntary give. I also weep that we have soo many elected representatives and senators who are more concerned about the rights of terrorists and have no problem criminalizing our military personnel. RIP Cpl. Dunham, it is now our turn to make sure your sacrifice is not forgotten.

“Murtha left the Marines in 1955. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for service in the Vietnam War, serving from 1966 to 1967, serving as a battalion staff officer (S-2 Intelligence Section), receiving the Bronze Star with Valor device, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Colonel in 1990, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.”

Believe me, I carry no water for this man (Murtha) but he did serve with distinction in Viet Nam and had a long career in the USMC.

My grandfather was a Marine in WWI–we didn’t find out until his funeral that he was highly decorated for saving many wounded soldiers by dragging them back from the no-man-zone while being mustard-gassed. We always thought he was a little crazy and finally found out why.

It doesn’t matter what they did or if they talked about it–it matters that they did it and would do so again if asked and able.

He could have lived the rest of his safely, without comment, without incident. This way, based on the heroic choice he made in one single instant, he will live, in those two ships, and probably in Arlington, as someone who gave his life for his friends, forever.

Words fail. My thanks to him and everyone else who has served, whether they made it home or not; may God abundantly bless each of you and your families, and grant a truly deserved measure of grace and peace for each.

A slow respectful salute to thee from tho of U.S. who do not understand the sacrifice a Marine (code name Jason) has given his all in a struggle against those who have no respect for life or liberty, now reports for duty as one of Gods guardian “Semper Fi”.

From a 25 year Viet Vet, his first born son, en-route to Afghanistan, and those who understand the meaning of “Duty, Honor, and Country”. We will continue to fight the good fight to bring freedom and liberty to people who deserve it, in your honor.

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here ‘neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you’ve given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore….

I was honored yesterday to be a tiny part of the successful. effort to protect Spc. Joshua Tomlinson’s funeral from the Westboro lunatics“worthless” UGs (aka uninvited guests). It is a lesson of what memorial day is all about and the strength of small-town America that protects its own. God bless the Patriot Guard riders!

michaelo on May 30, 2010 at 8:50 PM

Michaelo as a fellow proud Patriot Guard Rider THANKS for continuing to give HONOR and RESPECT to our fallen warriors – I would only request that you never give even a shred of publicity to those scum we shield families from – ONLY refer to them in the manner in which I’ve noted above.
THANKS again and ride SAFE

To all my brothers and sisters in green, let us keep close to our hearts the ones who will never come back, let us remind Americans that today is not about having a BBQ, but about rejoicing in our freedom that the fallen have given us. God bless you all.